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The Beat Goes On - May Edition
- Rich Martin
- May 18
- 5 min read
May has a habit of sneaking up on you.
One week the trees are just thinking about it, and then suddenly everything is green, the evenings are properly light, and you realise you've been outside without a coat and didn't even notice. It's one of those months that can genuinely lift your mood without you having to do anything at all.
And yet, life doesn't slow down to match it.
The bank holidays help, but they can just as easily become a chance to catch up on everything you've been putting off. The diary fills up. The kids are on half term. Work carries on. May can feel busy in a way that doesn't always leave much room for you.
So it's worth being intentional about carving out a little space even a small amount, where you actually get to enjoy the season rather than just move through it.
Make the most of the light
The evenings in May are one of the genuinely good things about this time of year. It's still light at half eight, and that extra time after work or after dinner can feel like a small gift — if you actually use it.
Not in a productive way. Not to get more done. Just to be outside, move a bit, or simply sit somewhere that isn't a screen.
Even twenty minutes outside in the evening a short walk, a sit in the garden, a wander with the dog can do a lot for how you feel. It helps your brain shift gear, eases the tension that builds up during the day, and often helps you sleep better too.
It doesn't have to be a fitness thing. It just has to get you out the door.
May is one of the easier months to do that. So if there's ever a time to build that little habit, it's now.
A change of scene
If you've got time over the bank holiday or half term, it's worth thinking about doing something that feels like a proper break even if it's local and doesn't cost much.
There's a lot to be said for getting out of the house and going somewhere that doesn't feel like your usual routine. It doesn't have to be far. It just has to feel different.
The countryside around Bucks is genuinely brilliant in May. The Vale looks great when everything's in bloom, and there are easy walks and green spaces that don't need any planning beyond putting your shoes on and heading out.
If you're after something a bit more structured, Waddesdon Manor is worth a visit this time of year - the gardens are at their best in late spring, and there's usually enough going on to keep kids busy too. Stowe Gardens over near Buckingham is another great option for a longer afternoon wander.
And if you're down in south Bucks, Hughenden Manor near High Wycombe is a lovely spot -National Trust, easy walking, and the grounds are really peaceful in May. Or Black Park Country Park near Slough is brilliant if you've got kids or a dog to tire out loads of space, woodland trails, and it won't cost you a thing to get in.
Pick one thing this month that gets you out and gives you something to look forward to. That's often all it takes.
Food for the soul - May recipe
As the weather starts to warm up and the mood lifts a little, it's a good time to shift to something a bit lighter in the kitchen. This lemon and herb chicken tray bake is quick to throw together, doesn't need much attention once it's in the oven, and tastes like proper spring food.
Lemon & herb chicken tray bake
Serves: 4 | Good for: easy weeknight dinner or a lazy Sunday
You'll need
4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
3 medium potatoes, cut into chunks
1 courgette, sliced
1 red pepper, roughly chopped
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
A handful of fresh parsley
Salt and pepper
How to make it
Heat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C). Tip the potato chunks into a large roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil, season well, and roast for 15 minutes to get a head start.
Add the chicken thighs, courgette, red pepper, lemon slices, garlic, and oregano to the tin. Toss everything together so it's well coated.
Roast for 35–40 minutes until the chicken skin is golden and the potatoes are tender.
Scatter over the fresh parsley and serve straight from the tin.
Easy to adapt swap the veg for whatever you've got. The kind of meal that feels a bit special without being any actual effort.
Local escape - Hartwell House & Park
If you're after a proper reset this month and you haven't already been, Hartwell House near Aylesbury is worth knowing about. The grounds are free to walk you don't need to be staying there or dining there and in May it's genuinely lovely. Big open spaces, mature trees, a lake, and enough room to properly breathe out.
It's only a couple of miles from Aylesbury town centre, but it feels like you're miles away from everything. Bring a coffee, take your time, and just wander for an hour.
It's the kind of place that reminds you that you don't always need to drive far to find somewhere worth being.
As we move through May…
It's tempting to treat May as the month you finally get on top of everything. The longer days make it feel like there's more time, and suddenly the urge to do more, exercise more and plan more can creep in.
But wellbeing isn't always about doing more. Sometimes it's about giving yourself permission to slow down and actually enjoy the season you're in.
Get outside when you can. Eat something decent. Look up from your phone for five minutes in the evening and notice that it's still light.
Small things. Still count.
Look after yourself this month, and check in on those around you too.
Take care,
On the Beat Team 💙
P.S. If you're stuck for plans this half term, you really can't go wrong with a picnic somewhere green. A sandwich, a flask, and an hour somewhere that isn't your living room. Sometimes the simplest things are the best reset going.
WHY NOT ENTER THE CLUB DRAW THIS MONTH - 50p a ticket and there are loads of free ticket bundles, plus use the promo code MAYNEWS and it will DOUBLE your chances of winning... There are some great Virgin Experience Vouchers to be won this month but if you don't win big, there is always a Costa Coffee to win! Also don't forget you're helping the Curtis Palmer Program, as 10% of all tickets sold go straight to the charity.
Something to look forward to later in the year...
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